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If there was ever a time for Apple to blitz the German market with Mac vs. PC advertisements, that time would be now. Chances are, even the German government would get behind the marketing campaign. That's the logical inference, of course, based on the BBC report this weekend. In order to "protect security," the German population is being warned about the "hazards" of using Internet Explorer. And they're even being advised to find a new browser... and quick.

The warning from the Federal Office for Information Security comes after Microsoft admitted IE was the weak link in recent attacks on Google's systems. Microsoft rejected the warning, saying that the risk to users was low and that the browsers' increased security setting would prevent any serious risk.

Nonetheless, the German government isn't taking any comfort in reassurances from Microsoft, which proposed that the aforementioned attacks on Google were by "highly motivated people with a very specific agenda."

Naturally, some are wondering if Apple smells blood in the water and will ramp up some sort of media bombardment of Mac ads in the German market. The blogosphere has lit up tonight with Apple die-hards taking every conceivable shot at IE possible in hopes of converting a stronghold of "nervous German PC users" into "safe and sound Mac users."

However, Graham Cluley of anti-virus firm Sophos, told BBC News that not only did the warning apply to 6, 7 and 8 of the browser, but the instructions on how to exploit the flaw had been posted on the internet. "This is a vulnerability that was announced in the last couple of days. Microsoft have no patch yet and the implication is that this is the same one that exploited on the attacks on Google earlier this week," he said.

Regardless of what Apple may do (assuming that they will actually do anything), this news is bad for Microsoft and will likely resonate far beyond German borders and make worldwide computer owners consider a switch from IE to another popular broswer - something that is steadily taking place across the global landscape anyway.

In case you're wondering, Apple has not formally commented on the matter. But you certainly know they're aware of the situation...
Image via areyoustupidorsomething